No Reserve – 1994 Honda VFR400R NC30 Project

Description

Please note: This NC30 is being sold as-is. The motor is free and does crank, but the bike does not run.

Additional photos are available here for your perusal.

Essentially a scaled-down version of Honda’s legendary RC30, the VFR400R, or NC30, was a race-bred 400cc superbike introduced in the late 1980s. A smaller and cheaper alternative to the VFR750R, the 400 still possessed the same bodywork and livery as the 750, as well as its stellar reliability and fit and finish which had become Honda hallmarks.

Powering the NC30 was a carbureted, liquid-cooled, DOHC, 16-valve, V4 with gear-driven cams that gave the NC30 a unique roar. With a relatively flat torque curve and a redline of 14,500rpm, the NC30’s V4 was good for around 30 ft-lbs of torque and just shy of 60hp. Top-speed was a respectable 130mph, and with a wet weight of only 400lbs, the VFR400R’s dual front 296mm discs and four-piston calipers were more than sufficient at slowing things down.

The trick little 400 was also an early adopter of various features such as its 360-degree “big bang” firing order, TRAC (Torque Reactive Anti-dive Circuit) 41mm telescopic front-end, and ELF’s Pro-Arm single-sided swing-arm. Just like its three-quarter-liter sibling, the welterweight VFR used a competition-derived aluminum twin-spar frame. A four-into-one exhaust exited on the left side of the bike, enabling easy access to the 18” rear wheel, and the suspension’s preload and rebound were both adjustable.

The VFR400R was created for the Japanese domestic market, though it was officially sold in parts of Europe for a time, albeit in limited numbers. Produced until being phased out in ’94, the NC30 wasn’t ever sold in the US, though grey market examples have found their way to US shores.

This example is VIN: NC301011356.

The odometer shows 31,956 kilometers (19,856 miles).

Maintenance:
In preparation for the listing, the seller had us replace the battery, intake manifolds, tail light bulbs, and repair the left-hand switch assembly. Our service department notes the following in their condition report:

Tire Year Front/ Rear:4608/3912
Tire % Front/ Rear: 20% CRACKING/80%
Brake % Front/ Rear :90/20
Hydraulic: >3% MOISTURE
Oil: LVL OK, DARK
Coolant: LVL OK, AGED
Low Beam:OK
High Beam:OK
Turn:OK
Tail Light:OK
Brake Light: FRONT ONLY
Plate Light:OK
Kill:OK
Horn:OK
Battery:NEW

Notes:
– Carbs need cleaning
– Missing petcock knob
– Forks pitted/leaking
– Missing body hardware
– Rear shock has no dampening/fluid
– Rusty tank
– Rear brake switch non-functional (missing spring)
– Missing LH mirror
– Fiberglass bodywork

Modifications:
Aftermarket fiberglass bodywork.

Aftermarket chain.

Aftermarket grips, anodized hardware.

Inside of the tank:

It is riding on tires that have aged out.

The sale includes four keys.

Cosmetic Blemishes: please see the album up top for all known cosmetic blemishes. Here is a selection:

Currently located at our facility in Santa Monica (please make an appointment for an inspection), this Honda is offered on a clean Oregon title. Have any VFR400 stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the “Comments” tab!